According to the audio commentary by star Leo Fong on the Region 1 DVD (released under the title Revenge of the Bushido Blade), the film was shot in 1976, but did not get released stateside until 1980.
Leo Fong is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. He retired in the mid 1990s. His last appointment was in Stockton, California.
During the commentary track on the DVD release, Leo Fong revealed that Cameron Mitchell had confused Leo with Bruce Lee. Leo only realised this when Cameron persistently asked him why there were no dragons in "that dragon film".